Premier League: Cardiff City v Arsenal match preview

A look ahead to the weekend’s fixture at the Cardiff City stadium

Jack Swindlehurst
Thursday 28 November 2013 17:26 GMT
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Theo Walcott is aiming for a start against Cardiff on Saturday
Theo Walcott is aiming for a start against Cardiff on Saturday (Getty Images)

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Premier League leaders Arsenal travel to Cardiff City on Saturday after a routine win in the Champions League against Marseille on Tuesday.

Cardiff are in 15 place, with 13 points from their 12 games but have picked up eight points from their home games this season. The Welsh side will be in a confident mood after drawing with Manchester United and beating Swansea in their last two home games. Fraizer Campbell is hitting impressive form and caused United problems, so Arsenal will be wary of the danger that Cardiff can pose. Arsenal are pulling away from the chasing pack and could go seven points clear, with Liverpool not playing until Sunday.

Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey have scored 21 goals between them in all competitions and are spearheading Arsenal’s success this season.

Arsenal have only lost once in their last 10 Premier League games and will be confident of improving on that on Saturday. The two teams have not played each other in the league since 1962, but did meet in the FA Cup in 2009. Cardiff are without striker Rudy Gestede, and Arsenal are still without Lukas Podolski, Abou Diaby, Rio Miyaichi, Yaya Sanogo and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Theo Walcott has made two substitute appearances in a week and will be in contention to start on Saturday.

KICK-OFF: 3.00pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS

Arsenal 4 (Eduardo 2, Bendtner, Van Persie) Cardiff City 0, FA Cup replay, February 2009

Cardiff City 0 Arsenal 0, FA Cup, January 2009

Arsenal 2 (Pires 2) Cardiff City 1 (Jerome), FA Cup, January 2006

STATS

Cardiff City have only won twice in their last 10 Premier League games, whereas Arsenal have 8 wins in the same amount of games.

Cardiff City’s Ben Turner has played every minute of every game this season.

Arsenal have used 25 different players in the Premier League this season.

ODDS

Cardiff City: 5.8

Draw: 4.0

Arsenal: 1.57

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